Acetylene-gas-generating apparatus.



4 Patented rep. ls, |900. lF..L. BAND. ACETY-LENE GAS GENERATINGQAPPARATUS.

(Application led Mar. 23, 1899.)

(No Model.)

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lNrrnn STATES PATENT OFFICE..

ACETYLEN E-GAS-G EN ERATING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 643,158, dated February 13, 190D.

Application filed March Z3, 1899. Serial No. 710,270. (No model.)

T0 all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, FERNANDO L. RAND, a citizen of the United States, residing at North Adams,in the county of Berkshire and State of Massachusetts, have invented a certain new and useful Acetylene-Gas Generator, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to machines for generating, storing,and distributing acetylene or similar gases which may be similarly generated. In generators of such gases the usual method has been to provide means whereby a fresh supplyT of Water is discharged upon the carbid or a fresh supply of carbid discharged into the Water, such methods requiring the employment of various forms of governors and valve Operating means liable to accidents or disarrangement owing to their delicate and sometimes complicated structure.

The primary object of my invention is to dispense with all suoli governing mechanism and to provide a generator of improved construction wherein the pressure of the gas in the gas holder and generator directly controls the level of the water, and thus regulates its contact with the carbid, and consequently the quantity of gas generated.

lVith this object in view my invention consists in the improved gas-generator hereinafter fully described, the particular points of novelty in which are specifically set forth in the claims.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to which my invention most nearly appertains to make and use the same, I will now proceed to describe its construction and operation, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part thereof,in which- Figure lis a view of a generator constructed in accordance with my invention, principally in vertical section, the piping and valves being shown in elevation. Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view ofthe gas-holder. Fig. 3 is a detail vertical sectional view of the pressure-weight and its spring-support.

Like letters of reference mark the same parts in all the figures of the drawings. ,p

Referring to the drawings, A indicates the generating-chamber, shown as a vertical cylinder with a draw-off or mud valve B at the bottom and containing a perforated carbid cage or receptacle C,of inverted conical form,

supported by means of 'an annular fiange D upon a similar flange at the top of the cylinder A, the cylinder and carbid -cell being closed at the. top by a semispherical cover E. The lower portion of the cylinder A forms the water-chamber, and from it leads a pipe F to an expansion -chamber G, provided with a vent-pipe H and a removable cover I. upper part of the cylinder A forms a gaschamber, and from it leads a pipe J into a gas-bell K, of ordinary form, inverted and Water-sealed in the open-top cylinder L of the gas-holder. 'Ihe induction-pipe J is provided with a cut-off valve M, and an eductiOn-pipe N, through which the gas is distributed, leads from the gas-bell K.

O indicates a vertical rod rising centrally from the bottom of cylinder L through the top of the gas-bell, upon the top of which is a button or head P, loosely fitting in a pipe Q, secured in and projecting above and below the top of the bell K, said pipe being open at its lower end and closed at its upper end by a screw-cap R. A spiral spring S rests upon the top of the rod O in the pipe Q, between its head P and the screw-cap R of the pipe. A weight T is received upon and around that part of pipe Q which projects above the gasbell.

The construction of my invention will be readily understood from the foregoing, and its operation may be described as follows: There being free communication between the generator-chamber A and the expansionchamber, water will stand at the same level in both chambers, and there being free communication (when valve M is open) between the gas-holder and the generating-chamber A pressure of gas in the holder willact upon the water in chamber A, depressing its level therein and raising its level in the expansionchamber G. The amount of pressure of the gas-holder, where the weight S does not bear on the bell, will be regulated so as to bring the level of the water in .chamber A toa height sufficient to cause it to come into contact with the carbid in the cage C-say, for example, up to the dotted line Uin chamber A-when the level of the Water in the expansion-chamber G will be at dotted line L. In this position of the parts the weight T is carried, or partially so, by the spring S on rod O. The

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Water being in contact With the carbid, gas Will be generated, which flowing into the gasbell will raise it, its pressure increasing as it moves the bell up, carrying pipe Q and Weight T with it until the generation of gas ceases, the eXtreme pressure being preferably regulated to give a variation of about. one inch, and at this extreme pressure the level of the Water in the generating-chamber A will bc depressed below the carbid-say to thevpoint indicated by dotted line V-While the level in expansion-chamber G will be raised to dotted line L. Whenever the pressure is reduced by consumption of gas or otherwise, the Water will rise in the chamber A, and a suflcient fall of pressure Will cause rise enough to bring the Water into contact with the carbid, generate more gas, and restore the pressure, the Water being depressed out of contact With the Water when the necessity of further generation of gas has ceased.

The advantages attending the use ot' my invention are numerous and obvious, the most important being its eXtreme simplicity, and consequent economy of construction, there being an entire absence of valves, levers, chains, or other Working mechanism in governing the supply of gas. The supply of gas is absolutely and positively governed directly by the pressure of the gas itself, and the rise and fall of the Water, and consequently the process of generating the gas, is so gradual that heating is reduced to a minimum, and under ordinary conditions all cooling devices are rendered unnecessary.

While I have illustrated specific means and constructions for carrying out my invention, I desire it to be understood that I do not limit pressure thereon will depress the Water-level`` in the generator below the carbid-cell and increase the level of the Water in the expansion-chamber and means for returning the Water to the generator, substantially as described. A

2. In an acetylene-gas-generating apparatus, the combination with the generator comprisinga cylinder having an annular flange on its interior Wall, of a carbid cage of inverted conical form supported by said ange and extending about half the distance of the cylinder, a gasometer and an expansion-chamber in operative connection With said generator, whereby the pressure from the gasometer Will force the the Water from contact with the carbid and into expansion-chamber, substantially as described.

FERNANDO L. RAND. Witnesses:

GEORGE N. RICH,

EDWARD A. RAND,

MARK E. CoUcH. 

